3.5 year old is always on the go....

[Jenna69]

My 3.5 year old daughter is always on the go, she even reads and walks quickly at the same time.  

She is in preschool and her teacher informed us one day that she believes she is constantly on the go and chatters  because she suffers from anxiety.  What are the symptoms of anxiety in a 3.5 year old?

To describe her, she was a late walker (18 months) and her language is a bit slower than other children her age (she is an only child and we have no family or friends in town, so her interaction with others is very limited).  She loves to pretend play and will talk about her favorite toy as if it were a real person; she loves dressing up and pretending to be Cinderella (there are many days when she insists that we call her Cinderella, otherwise she becomes upset), she is learning to complete 15 - 24 piece puzzles (with assistance) and will actually sit long enough to complete the puzzles over and over again.  She has become afraid of new children and does not speak or play directly with one child at a time (however she will play beside them).  She also does does not like it when strangers say hello or goodbye to her.  She becomes afraid when there are many children in a small area doing activities ie: climbing up a slide at the park etc.  She can become hyper in loud places and starts to run around and she also knows her ABC's and numbers.

Could these be signs of anxiety or does it sound more like ADD or something else?

[Jenna69]

Thanks for your response.  I am so glad to hear that girls talk a lot, as our daughter is just non stop, she even talks if no one is listening.  She sings at home constantly and loves talking to her aunt every night as she dances and plays pretend with her via telephone.  Thanks again for your response, it makes me feel a lot better.

[Encephalomalcia]

It sounds like she's a girl and she's 3.5.  We have four girls.  The girls are talking constantly.  Girls talk a lot and kids have a ton of energy.  Sounds like she has energy, so she must to healthy.  She must be getting enough sleep to have that energy level.  Talking, reading and if she sings a lot is a happy child.  Ask the teacher if she is singing in preschool.  A singing child is a happy child, not a child with anxiety. If she is sitting still working puzzles, she does not have ADD or ADHD.  Some little girls are very dramatic and love attention.  Not liking strangers saying hello or goodbye to her is better than having her over friendly with strangers.  Playing side by side is normal for this age.  Not liking to be in a crowd is normal and some people are always like that.  I, myself, do not prefer crowds and am a more one on one person.  It's part of her personality.  Enjoy your little girl and all the stages she will be going through.  Kids are fun!